~*~Chapter 11~*~
Aragorn shifted and leaned back against the dragon. He had nothing to do today so after practicing with his bow and sword a bit, he settled down with the dragon and taught her some more Elvish while trying to think of more good pranks.
He sighed… he couldn't really think of anything good today… he guessed he was just tired… although his mind was groggier than normal. He shook his head slightly and winced, then groaned. Great.
"Oh great…" He muttered.
The dragon turned her head and gave him a worried, questioning look.
"Sorry," He muttered, not being able to talk through thoughts as his head was too muddled at the time, "I think I've got a headache…"
- Think… hah! – He managed to think through the pain.
The stared into his eyes and he felt it gradually stop.
He sighed in relief and smiled, - Thank you mellonamin. - // my friend. //
The dragon blinked and cocked her head to the side, she knew enough Elvish to know what that meant, - You would see me a friend? –
He smiled, - Aye, and a good one at that. –
She quietly glanced around before looking back at him, - I thank you greatly… friend. Though I must warn you that that was only a temporary solution to your headache. –
Aragorn looked confused, - Did you not fix the one at your cave? It never came back. –
The dragon shook her head slightly, - Aye… but that was not a natural headache; that one was caused by having a branch falling on your head. Which I might say I am surprised you did not suffer amnesia from. –
Aragorn laughed, causing a few elves that were passing by to glance at him oddly, then smile and shake their heads for they were used to the odd actions of the human they had come to know so well during his childhood.
Aragorn smiled at them before turning back to the dragon, - Hey! Don't say that! Whenever I say something about my slight bit of good luck… something bad happens and it all goes 'Bye-bye'! –
The dragon gave him an odd look, - I think I did something wrong when I dulled your headache… -
Aragorn glared before grinning and shaking his head.
Elenoharthad gave him a skeptical look before freezing and glancing out in the direction of the mountain pass.
Aragorn gave her a questioning glance before freezing himself. He waited for a moment. There! Definite hoof-beats!
He stood up and ran over to the bend so he could see who was coming. He knew he didn't need to tell his father for he would have known at their crossing of the Ford.
He squinted and then blinked before checking again. Then he smiled and waved at the figure. He could not see the elf clearly but he recognized the horse, Ruim meaning Secret, Raenan's black stallion. He suddenly realized that he was being followed by another horse, Gwilbruitha, Peaceful Whisper. Legolas's white stallion.
Aragorn smiled, definitely Raenan. No other would be so sure to find another person that he would bring their horse with him.
He quickly ran back to the stables, though they were not far off, and walked up to a stall holding a silver mare. Though many had given her odd looks as a foal. She was an oddly small, dark gray, lazy little vicious filly. No one was sure what to do with her, as she was an independent little thing that seemed to hate everyone who tried to get near her.
He smiled and patted her. She nickered happily and pushed her intelligent face against his chest. His smile grew and he opened the stall door, then walked out of the stable and turned to find her right behind him.
Erethrintin. That was what he had named her. Her mother, whom belonged to Elrohir, had died two days after the foal's birth. Elrohir's mare had been small and incapable of surviving the blood-loss. The small foal nearly died after that seeing as no one had been able to get near her to feed her. They had given up. All except Aragorn, Estel. After that the twins and Elrond had been completely surprised.
They had figured it was the fact that the foal was too weak to fight back at that point but when they saw them together they felt differently.
Elrond noticed it second. Aragorn had seen the bond when he first saw the small foal. The fact that they shared something that no one else could share with the filly. They both felt rather alone. A daisy among roses. Different from the others. Though in different ways.
Aragorn smiled. He had named her that the day he saw her. Though he told no one as the foal rightfully belonged to Elrohir as no one could figure out who the foal's father was. Erethrintin suited her. Lonely Star.
He was surprised when Elrohir saw the bond they shared and gave him the small horse. No one could understand why he named the odd-looking gray horse thus. But no one questioned him. They figured it out themselves after a while anyhow.
The mare lowered her head and nudged the man again.
Aragorn blinked, realizing he wasn't paying attention to anything. He gave her a questioning glance and she snorted.
Aragorn smiled and mounted her. Independent. Definitely. She would not do anything you wanted if she did not want to do it as well. Though she never went against what the man said. She could read his body language easily and seemed to know where he wanted to go as she moved with the slightest twitch of the person riding her… or at least she did with him… she rarely let anyone else on her back unless Aragorn bid it of her. She would not be saddled either. Hated them. She would let Aragorn put them on her though she was unhappy with them so he always rode her bareback.
He smiled, she had turned out different from what the elves expected. She grew into a beautiful mare and her coat lightened into a bright silver. She was incredibly strong and could match many a stallion in speed and endurance.
He glanced over at the dragon and saw her watching him.
- Are you okay? – She asked, as he had not been paying attention to anything.
- Yes I'm fine, - He answered, - just thinking… -
The dragon shook her head, - Obviously. –
He grinned as his horse trotted right up to her. No fear. She knew her friend would not lead her into any danger.
- I'm going to greet Raenan, I shall be back soon… though you should probably wait here as you would probably scare the horses… - He trailed off for a moment then smirked, - probably him too. -
The dragon clicked with mirth and she nodded.
Aragorn smiled at her and with the smallest nudge, Erethrintin leapt forward and, sensing his excitement, cantered off with an incredible speed down around the bend and towards the approaching horses and elf.
It was obvious she enjoyed the true run after being simply put out into a large field for six years… seeing as she *still* wouldn't let anyone mount her. It took them a while to gain enough of her trust to be able to groom her properly. Though the elves would not say they did not enjoy working with the feisty mare.
Raenan smiled and raised his hand in welcome once he figured the man could see clearly, "Mae govannen!" // Well met! //
"Mae govannen na lle na!" Aragorn called back as his horse kept up her pace until she skidded almost to a stop before wheeling around and prancing next to Raenan. // Well met to you to! //
Raenan looked at the horse, surprised at the speed of the mare. Then smiled and looked up at Aragorn, "Is everyone okay? You didn't say anything and just left on us."
"Aye… we went after the dragon."
Raenan froze, "I thought I heard you say something about a dragon."
Erethrintin tossed her head and Raenan smiled, "I believe she wishes to speed up?"
Aragorn laughed lightly and patted her on the neck, "Aye, come lets…" He paused, suddenly noticing the small box-like structure that the elf had secured carefully to Gwilbruitha's back.
"What's in the box… thing?"
Raenan smirked, "King Thranduil seemed about ready to banish it from Mirkwood… so I brought her with me."
Aragorn tensed slightly, causing Erethrintin to stiffen. Aragorn immediately calmed himself and patted her, whispering into her ear. She snorted and calmed down almost immediately.
Raenan looked impressed, "For one who isn't an elf you can sure calm down your horse easily.
Aragorn shook his head, "Trust me when I say she belongs to no one."
Raenan blinked, "Why is that?"
"Let's just say she is a friend… if you try to tell her what to do and she doesn't agree… say hello to the ground."
Raenan grinned, "An independent one?"
"Very."
Erethrintin snorted and tossed her head, laughing Aragorn sped up.
"So, I'm going to say that 'she' or 'it' is Aikhila?"
Raenan nodded, "Little creature literally crossed the palace in under a minute… never thought it could reach those speeds!"
Aragorn sighed and shook his head, "You didn't guess? By the way it would wake up and in a second be dashing around the room without anyone figuring out *what* that little gray flash was?"
Raenan smiled, "It was kind of hard to figure it out…"
Aragorn reached over and playfully smacked him upside the head.
"Hey!"
"Legolas and Halbarad are fine… um… I hope you don't mind me asking but where are Tyryn and Anorian?"
"Worry not Aragorn, they are safe but a ways back with Adaron."
"Then all is well… oh… except…" he paused.
"Except?"
"Except for the dragon."
"Why? Were you unable to rid us of it?"
"No, we didn't rid us of *it*."
"So what will happen now?"
"Absolutely nothing."
Raenan blinked, "What?"
A/N
Kayses… I didn't really like the ending to this chapter but whatever. Tell if ya' like it! ^_^ It seems bein' sick had the opposite effect on me! I ended up writing like… 3 or 4 chapters alone on Sunday? Monday? I can't even truly remember right now… sad… anywho it was 2 days ago… but then… from the point in time yur reading it it could've been weeks ago… whatever. ^_^ well, I'll be posting, probably, faster now, as I'm excited to start posting my next book! ^_^
There is only one more chapter left in this book here. But worry not for I have already begun a sequel called 'Alagos o Kuil Storm of Life' So it'll be up soon.
SilverKnight7- Aw! Thanx! ^_^ yur so nice. I'm sorry this one'll be ending soon but don't worry. The next one is a continuation of this one. It was originally going to be part of this story but it would end up leading to things that couldn't get any different from what the beginning was like and… well, it would be a 'bit' too much. These things happening 1 after the other was odd enough. Well… you'll figure it out yourself I think. ^_^
leggylover03- o.O… do you, like, have some kind of odd weakness for blond dudes? Lol ^_^, anywho, I'm glad yur enjoying this… I think…
elvendancer- Lol. Oh yeah! I just looooooove receiving them. And thanx 4 yur offer, it would be greatly appreciated. ^_^
grumpy- Major difference. ^_^ probably kind of odd looking… and… urm… about the friend thing… think this way… young kid, not many friends… what do you do? I mean, come on. I'm sure you had… what do you call them? *Giggles* Invisible friends when you were younger… get the point now? Lol. Kind of odd thinking of him with his little 'invisible friend' but, hey, what kid didn't have one when they were young? In fact in grade 7 some of the girls in my class still had… chickens? I can't remember what they were exactly, named Bob… THAT was scary… ^_^ They lived in their pockets… *shudders* (No offence to those who may have done this… it WAS kinda scary… you should have seen what they said…)
Well, one more chapter 2 go! Then my sequel! Yay! ^_^ Well!
R/R!!!!!!!!!!!!! ^_^
Elf Side: Okay. How come you never let us say… write anything here?
Elven Kitten: Shhhh! People all ready think I'm weird!
E.S.: I thought you liked that…
E.K.: Yeah. ^_^
Gollum Side: Why are wesss doing thisss?
E.K.: I didn't start it you tell me!
E.S.: Because I want a reason you don't let us write!
E.K.: I don't know?
G.S.: That isss not a very good excusssse….
E.S.: Nay, 'tis not…
E.K.: Oh shush. If you let me stop fighting with you and post I'll let you write at the end! *Mutters* Annoying personalities…
E.S.: I heard that.
E.K.: Sh!
E.S.: -_-…
G.S.: …
E.K.: Better. Muuuuuuuuch bettah!
E.S.: *Rolls eyes*
E.K.: Namaarie!
E.S.: *Glares*
~Elenmeoi